Front-wheel mount



E D O O G C. s..

FRONT WHEEL IOUNT Filed nay s. 1924 w 5MM# Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

GILBERT C. GOODE, F BUFFALO,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WHITE KOTOR 001 PANY, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

matoN'r-wrnmnv mourn'. i

Original application led November 5, 1922, Serial No. 608,245. Dividedand this application tiled lay 9,

' 1924. Serial No. 711,995,

This invention relates to the mounting of the front wheels of motorvehicles and more i particularly to the steering knuckle construction,the objects of the invention beingto provide a steering knuckleconstruction which has ample strength to withstand the rough usage .towhich it is subjected, which can be quickly assembled or taken apart andin-which there is a minimum of frictional resistance to swingingmovement.

The following description and accompanying drawings set forth in detailcertain means embodying the invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but one of the various mechanicalforms in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a. partofthis specification in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in verticalsection 'showing the steering knuckle and portions of the wheel, axleand vehicle frame; Fi 2 is a side elevation of the wheel hub an steeringknuckle lookin from the inside, a. portion .of the knuckle being shownin sectlon.

In the accompanying drawings a fragmentary portion only` of the vehicleis shown, the front axle being designated by the reference numeral 1 andthe vehicle frame being designated by the reference numeral 2, the frame2- being yieldably supported in the usual manner by means of springsfrom the axle. The axle 1 has` a fiange 3 at its endand an upwardlinclined extension 4 hav-ing a vertically rsposed ivot in receivingsleeve 5 at ltsv outer en and as a flange 6 at its inner end which is ri'dly secured to the`l axle 1 by means of bolts which pass through theanges 3 and 6 of the axle and axle extension. When the brakes arecarried by the frontwheels on the spindles'pivoted to the' ends ofupwardly inclined axle ends the axles are subjected to severe torquelwhich tends to twist the axle at the bend between the strai ht centralportion and the inclined ends. en the axle is integral from end to endit is necessary to make the axle very heavy to resist thetwistingstresses.` In the present invention,.however, this ,d-iiicultyis avoided by making the body of the axle and the inclined endsofseparate pieces 1 and 4 and connecting them by bolting Athrough therelatively wide anges 3 and 6. r By emv19. adapted to be secured ployingthis constrliction the axle can be` made ofsuflicient strength at thebend to resist the torsional stresses without making the axle `undulyheav The spindle 8 has a vertically dispose integral knuckle ortion 9 atits inner-end from which exten vupper and lower flanges 10 and 11 which`fit over the upper and lower ends respectively of the pivot sleeve 5and which have pin receiving lapertures adapted ,toibe aligned with theaperture in. the sleeve 5. The aperture in the lower fiange 11 is ofslightly greater diameter than the aperture in the sleeve 5 and isadapted to receive a bushing 12, the internal diameter-of which is thesame as the internal diameter of the sleeve 5. A pivot pin 13 which hasa shoulder portion 14 of enlarged diameter toward its lower end isadapted to be inserted through the apertures in the flange 11, sleeve 5and dan e 10, the shoulder portion 14 passing throug the enlargedaperture in the flange 11 and engaging the lower end of the-sleeve 5.The pivot pin 13 has a notch 15 in the side thereof adjacent its centerwhich is engaged by a ta.- per pin 16 which is inserted through atransverse aperture in the sleeve 5. The pivot pin 13 ispreferablvprovided with an axial lubricant passage 1 lubricant may be supplied tothe pin supporting bearings. After the pin 13 has been inserted-thebushing 12 which has a dan overlying the underface of the flange 11 1sslipped over the lower end of the pin 13. A

lower steering arm 18, to the outer end of which the connecting memberbetween the two front wheels of the vehicle is adapted to be attached,has an enlarged inner end to the underside of the flange 11 -by means ofbolts 20. Each bolt,20 has an enlarged middle portion 20* and reducedthreaded ends 20" and 20. The upper threaded ends 20'of the bolts arescrewed into the flan e 11 and the threaded vlower ends 20 extent?through the flange of the enlarged ortion 19 ofthe steering arm which isheld) in place by nuts 20". The enlarged middle portions 20* ofy the`bolts fit in apertures in the flange ofthe bushing 12 and incounterbores in the'contiguous portions of the anges. This boltconnection is advantageous inthat it oers ample resistance to shearingstresses and permits parte its over the enlarged to be of lighterconstruction by reason of the smaller openings required for the endsv ofthe bolt. The enlarged end 19 of the steering.

arm forms a supporting member for the pivot pin and has formed thereindirectl beneath the pivot pin a ball pocket 21. In t e bottom of thepocket 21 is secured a hardened steel plug 22. A second vhardened steelplug24 has its stem fitting in the lower end of the axial passage 17 ofthe pivot pin and a head portion which rests upon a supporting ball 23which in turn rests upon the p'lug`22 in the bottom of the ballpocket21.

The weight ofthe vehicle is transmitted through'the sleeve 5 to theshoulder 14 of the pivotV pin and from theivot pin to the supportingball 23. The all support for the pivot pin permits swinging movement ofthe wheel spindle with respect to the' axle and olers a minimum offrictional resistance to such movement. A hardened steel cup 25 portion14 of the p1vot pin 13 and a ring of compressible material 25* surroundsthe shoulder 14 within the depending flange of the cup 25. The ring 25and cup 25 are of greater diameter than the aperture in the flange 11and serve as a bearassembling,

- flange 11 prior `pin.

nection 36 with the member l Thev present invention,

to be removed through the lower it unnecessarying between the sleeve 5and flange-11. In the cup 25 with the ring 25 therein is placed over theaperture in the to the insertion of the pivot An arm 26 extends'downwardly from the enlarged portion 19 of the lower steering arm and isconnected tothe webs of piv- ',oted'expansible internalbrake shoes 27 byalso serves to piv-l means of a bolt 28 which otally connect Vthe shoes27 The upper steering arm 29 which is adapted to be suitably connectedto the fvehicle steering mechanism has its inner eind rigidly securedupon the upper face of the knuckle vflange-10 and is bored to vreceivethe upper end of the pivot p'n 13. The steering arm 29 is secured to I'the flange 10 by means of bolts' 30 which pass through upper lface ofthe arm a bearing bracket 31 upon the 29' and through the arm- 29 intothe knuckle flange 10. l bearing bracket 31 has a portionextendingoutwardly and upwardly thereof and at its upper end has laterally spacedbearing portions 32 and 33 adapted to receive a lrotatable brakeopoj'rating member 34 which is operated through a telescopic shaft 35extending therefrom to thea universal con vehicle frame which has 34directly over the pivot pin 13. y

' By reason of the connection 36 directly above the pivotpin 13 theremoval of the4 ordinary pivot pm would be interferedwith.

however, permits the pivot pin end of the knuckle, making to remove anyof the brake opera-ting parts.

i This application isv a division of my ap-l with anges extending overlreceiving spindle having a The Afrom the basepsliQction, Serial No.603,245, filed Nov. 5, Having described my invention I claim- 1. Thecombination with a ri ing a pivot receiving sleeve, o a wheel receivinspindle having a knuckle portion y the top and bottom of the sleeve, .apivot in having a shoulder adapted to engage t e bottom of the axlesleeve and extendln throu h the sleeve and into the flanges of the spine to form a pivot therefor, and a removable pin retaining member carriedby the lower flange of the s indie, said pin being removable throurgsaid lower flange.

2. he combination with a ri 'd axle having a pivot receiving sleeve, o awheel receiving spindle havin pivot -receiving flan s extending over t etop and bottom of t e sleeve, a ivot pin ada ted to be inserted throught e lower spin sleeve, and into engagement with the upper spindle iange,and a steering arm removably attached to the lower spindle llange, lsaidarm having a thrust bearing for said pivot pin. r

3. In a motor vehicle, .the combination with a rigid axle having avertical pivot receiving s eeve at the end thereof of a wheel receivingspindle having a knuc e portion with flan es extending over the top andbottom o said sleeve, ing through said sleeve and engaging the flanges,said pivot pin having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the bottom ofsaid axle sleeve and the lower flange having an opening through whichthe pin mg serted, a mem er detachably secur to the lower flange of thespindle, said member having a ball receiving pocket beneath the pivotpin, and a ball in said pocket upon which the lower end of said pivotpin rests.

4. In a motor vehicle, v the combination with a rigid axle havin avertical ivot receiving sleeve at the en thereof, o a wheel with {langesextendin over the top and bottom of said sleeve, said flan es* havingapertures adapted to be 'aligne with the aperture in the sleeve, 4`thev,aperture in the lower flange being of greaterdiameter Vthan the sleeveaperture, a'pivot pin adapted to be insert/ed through the aperture ofthe lower flan into rvthe sleeve and upper flan said pin aving ashoulder of enlar diameter adapted to pass through' the en arged aperture ofthe lower flange and abut against the lower edge ofthe sleeve, abushing adapted to fit over the pivot pin within the a erture of thelower flange, a retaining mem er detachably secured to lower flange and,having a ball receivin pocket, and a ball in said pocket upon whic thelower end of said pivot. in

5. In la motor vehicle, e combination 'd axle hav-v sa le flange, and

asV

a pivot pin extendknuckle portion lthe under side of said 10 of adiameter greater than sai sho :,eluweon with a ri d axle havin a,vertical ivot receiv'ing s eev e at the en thereof, o a. wheel receivingspindle having a. knuckle portion with flanges extending over the topand bot- 5 tom of said sleeve, a ivot pin extending through said sleeveand. flanges said pivot pin havingl a shoulder adapted to be enged by te bottom of the axle sleeve and ge lower knuckle fiangehavin van o d inger, a

- wheel on said spindle and a steering arm l tegral extension havinportion rigid] and dean enl tacha y secumet the under si e of said'lower knuckle iiange,` said enlarged portion of the arm having a. ballreceiving pocket with a ball therein upon which the pivot pin rests,said steering arm also having 4an inorming a support 4for a brake shoe.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ax my 20

